Gloria Arroyo insists on dismissal of NBN-ZTE graft case

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday asked the Sandiganbayan to reconsider the junking of her motion to quash the graft case against her in connection with the government's botched national broadband network deal with Chinese firm ZTE.

 

A report by GMA News' Mark Salazar on GMA News TV's News TV Live said Mrs. Arroyo's camp filed a motion for reconsideration before the Sandiganbyan Fourth Division, which denied her motion to dismiss the graft case.

 

In December 2011, the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft charges against the former President for supposedly approving the $329-million NBN-ZTE contract, despite being “fully aware” of its supposed irregularities. Mrs. Arroyo pleaded not guilty to these accusations. 

 

In his report, Salazar quoted the Sandiganbayan as saying that it will first resolve the motion for reconsideration before continuing with the hearings, where the prosecution is expected to present at least 50 witnesses.

 

Among them are former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, columnist Jarius Bondoc, and Senate Legislative Records and Archives Service head Antonia Barros.

 

But quoting the former Philippine leader's lawyer, Lawrence Arroyo, Salazar said Mrs. Arroyo's camp is not worried since most of the witnesses are just records custodians and have no first-hand knowledge of the case.

 

He likewise said that even if the prosecution manages to convice former Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri to testify, Mrs. Arroyo will be fine since she is not involved in the supposed anomaly.

 

The Sandiganbayan will continue hearing the case on June 10.

 

Mrs. Arroyo, who is running for re-election as Pampanga representative, is currently detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center for separate plunder charges she is facing for alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds during her presidency.

 

She is also facing poll sabotage charges filed by the Commission on Elections for her alleged hand in the supposed rigging of the 2007 midterm polls. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News